First Amazon Lumberyard update brings mobile support, Substance integration

Amazon has released the first additions and tweaks to its Lumberyard engine since launching in beta last month.

Lumberyard version 1.1 introduces mobile support for iOS, as well as the Android-based Nvidia Shield. iOS support comes via compatibility with Apple’s Metal API, as well as the ability to make use of the GMEM memory of iPhone and iPad devices.

It also marks integration with Allegorithmic’s Substance texturing software, including the ability to import files from Substance Designer and modify material properties in real-time within Lumberyard.

Developers can expand Lumberyard as they need to using the new ‘Component Entity System’. The tool is a drag-and-drop interface that presents combinations of different components to create unique objects. Additional ‘Slices’ are reusable assemblies of Component Entities that can contain scene elements and game logic written in Flow Graph, Lua or C++.

Another new feature is the ability to import 3D meshes and materials through a newly-created FBX importer. The tool supports software such as Blender, as well as proprietary asset formats made in-house by studios.

Amazon has also expanded the functionality of its integrated Twitch ChatPlay platform, which lets devs create games with deeper integration with the livestreaming service. Votes can now be created and tallied, with the audience’s decision open to affect gameplay.

Develop recently spoke with Amazon Games VP Mike Frazzini about the future for the engine newcomer – read the full interview here.